ATHLETICS: RUGBY and Northampton secured promotion to Division Two of the British Athletics League courtesy of a second-placed finish in the final match of the season.
The club took full advantage of the event being staged on home turf as the team improved their position throughout the afternoon, going on to clinch a remarkable second straight promotion.
On the track, there were A string successes in the 200m, 400m and 800m for the club, with Kyle Ennis (21.70), Aidan Leeson (48.70) and Adam Wright (1:52.60) claiming the respective top honours.
Ennis – also a 100m winner in the B string (10.70) – was also part of the triumphant 4x100m relay team, joining forces with Adel Sesay, James Wright and Clinton Osoba George to take first place in 42.50, half a second clear of the field.
Harry Salt completed the track triumphs; a time of 16.10 was enough to give him victory in the B string 110m hurdles.
There were plenty more impressive performances, with Caleb Downes (10.90) second in the 100m, along with third-placed finishes for Osoba George (200m B – 23.30), Joshua Faulds (400m hurdles – 55.10) and Theo Walkley-Bartlett (110m hurdles – 16.00).
Team success extended to the field with Craig Murch’s hammer throw of 66.03 easing him to a huge win. Leon Bailey beat the javelin competition with a distance of 51.86m, and R&N completed the double thanks to Kevin Murch, who threw 49.06 to win the B string event – and it was this double achievement which guaranteed the club promotion.
Alex Hamling took top spot too, in the B string discus – his throw of 39.77 enough for first. Matthew Twigg was another to finish in the top three, taking third in the A string discus (41.49) and second in the B string shot put (11.85).
